Chair, settee, or like furniture



Jan. 18, 15938. w. H. SADGROVE CHAIR, SETTEE, OR LIKE FURNITURE Filed Sept. 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invuzfon W H Sadyror A?! arneyn Jan. 18, 1938. w. H. SADGROVE 2,106,066

CHAIR, SBTTBE, OR LIKE FURNITURE Filed Sept. 22, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application September 22, 1936, Serial No. 101,991 In Great Britain January 30, 1935 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to chairs (more especially easy chairs), settees or the like which are either permanently upholstered or are constructed for use with loose cushions upon the seat, with or without also against the back, and which are provided with a resiliently suspended seat.

It will be understood that by a chair, setteeor the like is meant an article of furniture of this description, in which, in contrast, for example. to a bed orcouch, there is a seat which in the normal use of the article of furniture is occupied by a person in a sitting position with the legs overhanging the edge of the seat and the feet supported on the floor.,

The object of the invention is to provide an improved construction of such chair, settce or the like characterized by an improved form of resilient suspension for the seat, which, in addition to cheapening and facilitating manufacture, and also affording increased comfort in the use of the chair or the like, as compared with known constructions, will be capable of remaining in its initial degree of resilience and effectiveness practically indefinitely, that is to say against the tendency, so frequently experienced'with known constructions, for the suspension to lose its resilience with consequent loss of support for the seat and its load and mi'splacement moreover, of the normal (unloaded) position of the seat from its original, designed position.

According to the invention, there is provided a chair, settee or the like upholstered or constructed for use with loose cushions, wherein the seatdncorporates for the support of the uphol-' stery or cushions an elastically extensible foundation anchored at one end to the front edge of the seat and at the other end to the frame of the chair or the like along a line at or near the rear edge of the seat, and the said front edge is displaceable downwardly, under the weight of a person sitting upon the seat, along a path of increasing radius from the line of rear anchorage of the foundation, partly against the resultant pull of the foundation and partly against the upward thrust of one or more leaf spring or like laterally stifl resilient cantilever supporting members for the seat extending in the direction of depth thereof from back to front with the free end at the front and connected at said free end to the front edge of the seat.

According to a preferred form of the invention, there are two leaf spring or like supporting members disposed one on either side of the seat and so disposed in the chair or settee frame as to extend forwardly and upwardly towards the free end, whereby the front of the seat is caused to travel along the said path of increasing radius.

It is found that a seat resiliently suspended in the manner characteristic of this invention as 5 outlined above,,will retain its original resilient supporting power and also its initial position in the chair or settee practically indefinitely. This is due partly to the fact that the leaf springs or the like, in contrast to the ordinary hour glass type 10 of spring, flex through only a relatively small angle, even with the maximum movement of the front edge of the seat, and in consequence are' enabled to retain their original resilience or strength for a very long period of time, and partly to the fact that if the leaf springs or the like should eventually weaken a little, their sagging or sitting down in consequence is prevented by the pull upon their free ends of the elastically extensible foundation for the upholstery or loose cushions, which pull keeps constant almost indefinitely on account of the fact that the linear extension of the foundation is only slight, even again with the maximum downward movement of the seat. 1

In addition, a highly satisfactory springing effect is obtained in cases where the upholstery or loose cushions of the seat is or are composed of sponge rubber or of a mass of closely spaced compression springs, either plain or in pockets; by

suitably selecting the resilience of V the sponge rubber, or the strength of the compression springs,

on the one hand and the strength of the leaf springs or the like on the other, a most pleasing combination eiiect is obtainable in the springing of the seat.

If desired, according to a feature of the invention, in the event of the supporting members taking the form of leaf springs, the leaf springs may be twisted through substantially a right angle so that one end is substantially in the plane of oscillation of the spring, that is with the displacement referred to above of the front edge of the seat, while the other is substantially in a plane perpendicular thereto.

This is found to be a convenient arrangement in certain cases where, for instance, the design or width dimensions of the chair or settee frame render it difficult to provide a horizontally disposed surface sufliciently wide to accommodate thewidth of the spring at one or other of the ends thereof. Also, in the case where the vertically disposed end of the spring, that is to say the end which is in the plane of oscillation of the spring. is the fixed end, there is the further advantage that the fixing screws or the like by which the spring is secured to the chair or settee frame do not tend to become pulled out in course of time by the upwardreaction pressure of the fixed end of the spring, for this pressure is applied radially of the shanks of the screws, in contrast to axially thereof and therefore upon the underside of the screw heads as is the case where the fixed end of the spring is horizontal- The twist in the spring may either be gradual, for example substantially continuous from end to end of the spring, or acute and located at some particular point along the length of the spring.

' structed in accordance with the invention, with certain parts broken away;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing another construction;

Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary views showing alternative forms of suspension member for the seat; v

Figure 7 shows in perspective a small chair constructed in accordance with the invention, -with certain parts broken away, and

Figure 8 illustrates a constructional modifica tion hereinafter described.

Like reference characters indicate like parts in the various figures.

Referring first to Figure l, the chair here shown comprises a rigid frame of substantially conventional form and construction. This frame consists of a rectangular bottom I adapted to rest upon the ground, two rear posts 2, 3, two arms 4, 5 connected to the posts 2, 3 at the rearand a cross bar 6 extending across the chair at the back at about the level of the seat and connected at the ends to the posts 2, 3.

Carried upon this rigid frame is a back I, which in the embodiment of the invention shown consists of two side members 8, 9 rigidly afflxed to the posts 2,3 of the chair frame; twoleaf springs ill, ll mounted at the lower end upon the face of curved brackets l2, l3 attached in turn to the lower part of the side members 8, 9, which leaf springs extend upwardly as shown to the top of the back and have a freedom of resilient movement towards and away therefrom; and a number of horizontally disposed elastically extensible webs ll connected at the ends to the face of the springs in, II andeach consisting of two slats of metal connected end to end to an intervening tension spring.

Upon the forwardly presented face of the back,-

which may if desired be of any other convenient construction, is the upholstery of the back. This also may be of any desired kind or form. In the form shown. it comprises a facing layer ii of hair,

flbre or like upholstery material mounted upon a wholly of sponge rubber; or, with a bed of pocket .springs, the facing layer may be composed of sponge rubber. Also, instead of permanent upholstery, the chair may if desired be fitted with loose cushions, which again may be either of the spring cushion type or of the type composed wholly or in part of hair, fibre or the like or sponge rubber.

The front edge of the seat of the chair is formed by a cross-member I! mounted at the ends upon the free ends of a pair of leaf springs l8, disposed one along each side of the chain, These leaf springs are affixed to the rear part of the bottom I and extend towards their free end forwardly and upwardly therefrom. The springs I8 constitute a resilient mounting for the seat, in virtue of which the seat is free to move in the downward direction under. the weight of the person sitting upon it and then to return to normal posi-' tion, by the lift of the springs, upon said weight being removed.

The upholstery or loose cushions of the seat is or are supported upon an elastically extensible foundation,similar in principle to the foundation above described for the upholstery or cushions oi the back. As shown, this foundation comprises a number of slats IQ of inextensible material rigidly affixed at their forward end to the cross member I I and connected at their rear end to one or more short tension springs 20, in turn anchored to the cross bar 6 of the chair frame along a line in the vicinity of the rear edge of the seat.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that in accordance with the fundamental idea underlying this invention, the front edge of the seat is displaceable downwardly, under the weight of -a person sitting upon the seat, partly against the pull of the elastically extensible foundation for the upholstery or loose cushions of the seat and partly against the upward thrust of the leaf springs, while when the weight is removed from the seat the said foundation exercises an upward pull upon the ends of the leaf springs through the intermediary of thecross-member H.

The upholstery of the seat is similar vto that of the back and, as in the case of the back, may be replaced by loose cushions if desired.

Referring next to Figure 2, the method of spring mounting the seat is the same as that of the chair of Figure 1 and the construction of the chair is generally the same. The principal difference is in the form of the back, which, as shown, comprises simply a rigid frame 2| combinedwith elastically extensible webs 22 disposed vertically,

instead of horizontally as in the construction of of semi-elliptical form, being disposed with the' major axis of the ellipse horizontal and with the forward extremity of the lower limb secured to' the rigid frame I of the chair at a point near the front thereof.

Figure 4 shows an alternative form of resilient suspension member, for use if desired in place of a leaf spring. The suspension member, according to this form thereof, consists of a doubled armed spring 23 composed of stout resilient wire ore rod bent tothe shape shown. It is understood, of course, that this alternative form of suspension member is employed in conjunction with an elase tically extensible foundation, such as the slats l9 and springs 20, for the upholstery or loose cush- Referring now to Figure 5, the chair here shown is of a similar construction to the chair shown in Figure 2. The leaf springs 18, however,

' disposed with the constituting the suspension members for the seat of the chair are twisted as shown, at a point near the rear end so that the ,part of the spring in rear of the twist lies in a plane parallel with the general plane of oscillation of the spring as the seat moves up and down at the front end, the said rear part of the spring being aiilxed to a vertically disposed surface of the side member of the bottom i of the chair frame, namely the inwardly disposed lateral face thereof, by means of screws, bolts or the like extending through the spring and into the chair frame in a direction transverse to the plane of oscillation of the spring.

According to the. further alternative form of suspension member illustrated in Figure 6, the leaf springs l8 have a gradual twist in contrast to the acute twist of the springs of the construction shown in Figure 5, and the springs are af-. fixed to vertically disposed surfaces of the rear posts 2 (3) of the chair frame instead of to inwardly disposed lateral faces of the side members of the bottom I.

Referring finally to the construction of small chair in accordance with the invention as illustrated in Figure 7, the chair shown comprises a rigid frame 24 which may be of any convenient construction, according, for example, to the design of the chair. The front edge of the seat of the chair is formed by a cross bar 25 afilxed at the ends to the forward extremities of a pair of leaf springs 26 the rear extremities of which are affixed in turn to the cross member 21 incorporated in the frame 24 of the chair at the level of the seat thereof. The springs 26 are formed with a gradual twist from end to end as in the case of thesprings ill of the .easy chair of Figure 6. The springs, however, are horizontal end rearmost, that is at the fixed end of the spring, and the vertical end foremost. Extending rearwardly from the cross bar 25, as in the case of the easy chair constructions of Figures 1 to 6, are a number of elastically extensible webs composed each of an extensible metal slat 28 aifixed at the forward end to the cross bar 25 and anchored at the rear end to the rear cross member ZIthrough the intermediary of tension springs 29, the arrangement being such, as before, thatin accordance with the general principle of the invention, the front edge of the seat is displaceable downwardly,'under the weight of a person sitting upon the seat, partly against the pull of the elastically extensible webs, which, as will be appreciated, constitute an elastic foundation for the upholstery of the seat and partly against upward thrust of the leaf springs. The upholstery of the seat may conveniently be of sponge rubber, bedded, as will be understood, upon the elastic foundation constituted by the extensible webs referred to.

If desired, instead of employing for the elastically extensible webs of the seat upholstery or cushion foundation, slats of metal or the like connected end to end with a coiled tension spring or springs as in the above specific embodiments of the invention, the webs may comprise simply lengths 30 of helical tension spring anchored at the forward end to the front cross-member I! or 25 of the seat and at the rear end to the rear cross-member 6 or 21 of the chair frame, as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a chair, settee or like article of furniture underside of a rear whereof the seat is upholstered or is constructed for use with loose cushions, the combination comprising a rigid frame for the article, a crossmember forming the front edge of the seat of the article, a foundation for supporting the upholstery or cushions of the seat, which foundation is elastically extensible in the direction of depth of the seat from back to front thereof and is anchored at one end to the cross-member and at the other end, along a line in the vicinity of the rear edge of the seat, to the rigid frame, the line of rear anchorage thus of the foundation being, therefore, of fixed position relatively to the rigid frame, and at least one laterally stiff vertically resilient cantileversupporting member for the seat, which supporting member extends in the said direction of depth of the seat with its free end towards the front thereof, is fastened at the fixed end to the rigid frame at a level therein below that of the plane occupied by the foundation and carries the cross-member in rigid connection with it upon the free end, the arrangement thereby being such that as the cross-member is displaced downwardly, under the weight of a person sitting upon the seat, it moves along a path of increasing distance from the said line of rear anchorage of the foundation, partly against the resultant pull of the foundation and partly against the upward thrust of the supporting member.

2. In a chair, settee or like article of furniture whereof the seat is upholstered or is constructed for use with loose cushions, the combination comprising a rigid frame for the article, a crossmember forming the front edge of the seat of the article, a foundation for supporting the upholstery or cushions of the seat, which foundation is elastically extensible in the direction of depth of the seat from back to front thereof and is anchored at one end to the cross-member and at the other end, along a line in the vicinity of the rear edge of the seat, to the rigid frame, the line of rear anchorage thus of the foundation being, therefore, of fixed position relatively to the rigid frame, and two laterally stiff vertically resilient cantilever supporting members for the seat secured at the fixed end to the rigid frame and carrying the cross-member in rigid connection with them upon the free end, the said supporting members being disposed one at either side of the seat and extending, in the said direction of depth thereof, forwardly of the article and upwardly, toward their free end, whereby the cross-member is caused to travel, in moving downwardly under the weight of a person sitting upon the seat, along a path of increasing distance from the said line of rear anchorage of the foundation, partly against the resultant pull of the foundation and partly against the upward thrust of the supporting members.

3.. In a chair, settee or like article of furniture whereof the seat is upholstered or is constructed for use with loose cushions, the combi nation comprising a rigid frame for the article, a cross-member forming the front edge of the seat of the article, a foundation for supporting the upholstery or cushions of the seat, which foundation is elastically extensible in the direction of depth of the seat from back to front thereof and is anchored at one end to the crossmember and at the other end; along a line in the vicinity of the rear edge of the seat, to the rigid frame, the-line of rear anchorage thus of the foundation being, therefore, of fixed position relatively tothe rigid frame, and a plurality of leaf springs which constitute laterally stiff vertically resilient cantilever supporting members for the seat, being securedat the fixed end to the rigid frame and carrying the cross-member in rigid connection with them upon the free end, which leaf springsextend, in the said direction of depth of the seat, forwardly of the article and upwardly, towards their free end, whereby the cross-member is caused to travel,

in -moving downwardly under the weight of a I person sitting upon the seat, along a path of increasing distance from the said line of rear anchorage of the foundation, partly against the resultant pull of the foundation and partly against the upward thrust of the leaf springs.

4. In a chair, settee or like article of furniture whereof the seat is upholstered or is constructed,

for use with loose cushions, the combination comprising a rigid frame for the article, a crossmember forming the front edge of the seat of the article, a foundation for supporting the upholstery or cushions of the seat, which foundation is elastically extensible in the direction of depth of the seat from backto front thereof and is anchored at one end to the cross-member and at the other end, along aline in the vicinity of the rear edge of the seat, to the rigid frame, the line of rear anchorage thus of the foundation being, therefore, of fixed position relatively to the rigid frame; and two leaf springs which constitute laterally stiff vertically resilient canti-,

lever supporting members for the seat, being secured at the fixed end to the rigid frame and carrying the cross-member in rigid connection with them upon the free end, which leaf springs are disposed one at either side of the seat and extend, in the said direction of depth thereof, forwardly of the article and upwardly, towards their free end, whereby. the cross-member is caused to travel, in-moving downwardly under the weight of a person sitting upon the'seat, along a path of increasing distance from the said line of rear anchorage of the foundation, partly against the resultant pull of the foundation and partly against the upward thrust of the leaf springs. e.

5. In a; chair, settee or like article of furniture whereof the seat is upholstered or is constructed for use with loose cushions, the combination comprising a rigid frame for the article, a crossmember forming the front edge of the seat of the article, a foundation for supporting the upholstery or cushions of the seat, which foundation is elastically extensible in the direction of depth of the seat from back to front thereof and is anchored atone end to the cross-member and at the other end, along a line in the vicinity of the rear edge of the seat, to the rigid frame,

the line of rear anchorage thus of the foundation being, therefore, of fixed position relatively to the rigid frame, and a plurality of leaf springs which constitute resilient cantilever supporting members for the seat, being secured at the fixed end to the rigid frame and carrying the crossmember in rigid connection with them upon the free end, which leaf springs are twisted through a rlght'angle, so that one end is in the plane of oscillation of the spring while the other said line of rear anchorage of the foundation, partly against the resultant pull of the foundation and partly against the upward thrust of the leaf springs. I

6-. In a chair, settee or like'article of furniture whereof the seat is upholstered or is constructed for use with loose cushions, the combination comprising a rigid frame for the article, a crossmember forming the front edge of the seat of the article, a foundation for supporting the upholstery or cushions of the seat, which foundation is elastically extensible in the directionof depth of the seat from back to front thereof and is anchoredat one end to the cross-member and at the other end, along a line in the vicinity of the rear edge of the seat, to the rigid frame, the line of rear anchorage thus of the foundation being, therefore, of fixed position relatively to the rigid frame, and a plurality of leaf springs which constitute resilient cantilever supporting members for the seat, 'being secured at the fixed end to the rigid frame and carrying the cross-memher in rigid connection with them upon the free end, which leaf springs are twisted through a right angle, are disposed with the fixed end lying in the plane of oscillation of the spring and affixed to a vertically disposed surface of the rigid frame by fixing means extending through the spring in a direction transverse to the said plane of oscillation and extend, in the said direction of depthof the seat, forwardly of the article and upwardly, towards their free end,

whereby the cross-member is caused to travel, in moving downwardly under the weight of a person sitting upon the seat, along a path of increasing distance from the said line of rear anchorage of the foundation, partly against the resultant pull of, the foundation and partly against the upward thrust of the leaf springs.

7. In alchair, settee or like article of furniture whcreof-thefseat is upholstered or is constructed for "use 'fwith' loose cushions, the combination comprising a rigid frame for the article, a crossmember forming the front edge of the seat of the article,'-a foundation for supporting the upholstery orcushions of the seat, which foundation is elasticallfutensible in the direction of depth of'the seat from back to front thereof and -is anchored at one end to the cross-member and'at the other end, along a line in the vicinity of the rear edge of the seat, to the rigid frame,

the line of rear anchorage thus of the foundation being, therefore, of fixed position relatively to the rigid frame, and a plurality of leaf springs which constitute resilient cantilever supporting members for the seat, being secured at the fixed end to therigid frame and carrying the crossting upon the seat, along a path of increasing is in a plane perpendicular thereto, and extend, Q

in the said direction of depth of the seat, forwardly of the article and upwardly. towards their free end, whereby the cross-member .is

caused to travel,.in moving downwardly under 1 the weight of a person sitting upon the seat,

distance from the said line of rear anchorage of the foundation; partly against the resultant pull of the foundation and partly against the upfor use with loose cushions,.the combination comu article, a foundation for supporting the upholprising a rigid frame for the article, a crossmember forming the front edge of the seat of the stery or cushions of the seat, which foundation is elastically extensible in the direction of depth of the seat from back to front thereof and "is anchored at one end to the cross-member and at the other end, along a line in the vicinity of the rear edge of the seat, to the rigid frame, the line of rear anchorage thus of the foundation being, therefore, of fixed position relatively to the rigid frame, and a plurality of leaf springs which constitute resilient cantilever supporting members for the seat, being secured at the fixed end to the rigid frame and carrying the cross-member in rigid connection with them upon the free end, which leaf springs are twisted through a right angle, so that one end is in the plane of oscillation of the spring while the other is in a plane perpendicularthereto, with an acute twist which is situated near the end of the spring which is in the said plane of oscillation thereof, and extend, in the said direction of depth of theseat, forwardly of the article and upwardly, towards their free end, whereby the cross-member is caused to travel, in moving downwardly under the weight of a person sitting upon the seat, along a path of increasing distance from the said line of rear anchorage of the foundation, partly against the resultant pull of the foundation and partly against the upward thrust of the leaf springs.

9. In a chair, settee or like article of furniture whereof the seat is upholstered or is constructed for use with loose cushions, the combination comprising a rigid frame for the article, a cross-member forming the front edge of the seat of the article, a foundation for supporting the upholbeing, therefore, of fixed position relatively to the rigid frame, and at least one laterally stifi vertically resilient cantilever supporting member for the seat, which supporting member extends in the said direction of depth of the seat with its free end towards the front thereof, is fastened at the fixed end to the rigid frame at a level therein below that of the plane occupied by theifoundation and carries the cross-member in rigid connection with it upon the free end, the supporting member being of semi-elliptical form with the major axis of the ellipse disposed horizontally and the arrangement being such that the cross-member is displaceable downwardly, under the weight of a person sitting upon the seat, along a path of increasing distance from the said line of rear anchorage of the foundation,

partly against the resultant pull of the founda-' tion and partly against the upward thrust of the supporting member.

10. In a chair, settee or like article of furniture whereof the seat is upholstered or is constructed for use with loose cushions, the combination comprising a rigid frame for the article, a crossmember forming the front edge of the seat of the article, a foundation for supporting the upholstery or cushions of the seat, which foundation is elastically extensible in the direction of depth of the seat from back to-front thereof and is anchored at one end to the cross-member and at the other end, along a line in the vicinity of the rear edge of the seat, to the rigid frame, the line of rear anchorage thus of the foundation being therefore, of fixed position relatively to the rigid frame, and at least one resilient. cantilever supporting member for the seat, which supporting member extends in the said direction of depth of the seat with its free end towards the front thereof, is fastened at the fixed end to the rigid frame at a level therein below that of the plane occupied by the foundation and carries the cross-member in rigid connection with it upon the free end, the arrangement thereby being such that as the crossmember is displaced downwardly, under the weight of a person sitting upon the seat, it moves along a path of increasing distance from the said line of rear anchorage of'the foundation, partly against the resultant pull of the foundation and partly against the upward thrust of the supporting member.

WILLIAM HOWARD SADGROVE. 

